Training Baseball for Hitting Practice

ABSTRACT

A training baseball provides at least one flat surface for use as a visual indicator during hitting practice using a batting tee. Multiple flat surfaces may be incorporated for accommodating multiple skill levels.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/708,279 filed on Oct. 1, 2012. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to athletics. More particularly, the present invention relates to a training baseball to be used with a tee for hitting practice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proper swing technique is of the utmost importance to baseball players at all levels of play. Batting practice is commonly conducted through a pitcher throwing live batting practice or through the use of a pitching machine. Although these methods have proven effective at all skill levels, a batter cannot utilize these practice methods without a pitcher or batting machine providing balls to hit. A baseball placed on a tee provides an opportunity to practice swing technique without a pitcher or batting machine although this setup is quite limited with regards to simulating live pitching. It is difficult to simulate the point of contact between a bat and ball in situations such as that of an inside pitch or an outside pitch when striking a ball off of a tee. The present invention seeks to improve upon currently available methods and tools for improving and practicing swing technique.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a training baseball that teaches a batter proper swing technique and bat flight path to and through the ball. The present invention is a training baseball of approximately the same dimensional specifications as an official regulation ball featuring two sections of removed material resulting in two flat surfaces that are parallel to one another. The present invention is intended for use on a tee with the two flat surfaces positioned parallel to the desired point of contact with a bat. The flat surfaces provide a two-dimensional plane on which the batter may focus and also teaches a batter the proper swing path of a bat to and through the ball. This allows a batter to practice proper swing technique with the ball oriented in a variety of positions to simulate the various scenarios provided by live pitching.

Additionally, a properly struck ball will follow a trajectory perpendicular to the bat, providing a visual indicator to the batter of whether or not he has properly hit the ball. The two flat surfaces of the ball are of different sizes in order to accommodate players of varying skill levels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention with two opposing flat surfaces.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a cross-sectional view of the present invention with one flat surface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a cross-sectional view of the present invention with two flat surfaces.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a training baseball intended for use on a tee during hitting practice. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is a ball of approximately the same dimensional specifications as an official regulation baseball with two portions of material removed, forming two flat surfaces of different sizes.

Referring to FIG. 1, in general, the present invention is comprised of a spherical body 1 and at least one flat surface 2, which is positioned on the spherical body 1. In the preferred embodiment, each of the at least one flat surface 2 is made by removing material from the spherical body 1 during manufacture. However, each of the at least one flat surface 2 may be made by other appropriate means depending on the specific manufacturing process used, such as, but not limited to, injection molding or 3-dimensional printing.

The spherical body 1 is the primary physical component of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention may be comprised of materials that are preferably durable and heat resistant, such as, but not limited to, rubber, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), nylon, another polymer, various types of cloth, thread or other materials that are suitable for use in a training baseball. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spherical body 1 ranges in diameter from 2.8 inches to 3 inches, with the weight ranging from 5 ounces to 5.25 ounces, so that the present invention is capable of behaving in a similar manner as an official regulation baseball when struck off a tee by a bat. However, the present invention is not limited with respect to either size or weight and may appear in other embodiments to be used in other comparable sports such as softball or tennis where a similar practice tool could be useful. It is important to note that these provided dimensional specifications for diameter and weight of the present invention do not take into account the removal of material to form the at least one flat surface 2. The spherical body 1 comprises a center point 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the at least one flat surface 2 comprises a normal axis 21. The normal axis 21 is oriented normal to the at least one flat surface 2, the normal axis 21 is centrally positioned with the at least one flat surface 2, and the normal axis 21 passes through the center point 11 of the spherical body 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the at least one flat surface 2 is smooth and unmarked.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first axis 3 and a second axis 4 are defined as being oriented perpendicular to each other and passing through the center point 11 of the spherical body 1. A cut plane 5 is defined as oriented normal to the first axis 3 and parallel to the second axis 4. The cut plane 5 is offset from the second axis 4 along the first axis 3. A cut vector 6 is defined as being coincident with the first axis 3, and oriented so that the cut vector 6 points away from the center point 11. The cut plane 5 is coincident with the at least one flat surface 2, and the at least one flat surface 2 is formed by removing material from the spherical body 1 in a volume of space 7 delineated by the cut plane 5 and the cut vector 6.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one flat surface 2 comprises a first surface 22 and a second surface 23. As seen in FIG. 2, the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 are preferably positioned opposite each other along an axis passing through the center point 11. More precisely, the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 are positioned opposite each other on the spherical body 1 along the first axis 3. However, alternate embodiments may comprise different locations for the first surface 22 and the second surface 23. The first surface 22 has a larger area than the second surface 23. The first surface 22, being larger, presents an easier target for a novice hitter. The second surface 23, being smaller, presents more of a challenge for training a more advanced player.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cut plane 5 may be further described in terms of angles. Taking a cross-sectional view at the first axis 3 and the second axis 4, a first line 12 is defined as traversing from the center point 11 to a first intersection point 13 where the cut plane 5 of the first surface 22 intersects the boundary of the spherical body 1. Similarly, a second line 14 is defined as traversing from the center point 11 to a second intersection point 15 where the cut plane 5 of the second surface 22 intersects the boundary of the spherical body 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first line 12 makes an angle of 45 degrees with the first axis 3, and the second line 13 makes an angle of 30 degrees with the first axis 3. The prior description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; however, alternate embodiments of the present invention may vary in the angle dimensions.

In the preferred embodiment, the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 are rectangular. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 are square. However, the specific shape of the boundaries for the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 are not of particular importance. In alternate embodiments, the first surface 22 and the second surface 23 may be circular, raised, embossed, triangular shaped, or have a different shape as desired.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of laces 9 is arranged across the spherical body 1 in a manner common to baseballs. The plurality of laces 9 may also be comprised as a raised representation of laces, such as in an embodiment where the present invention is made by injection molding. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of dimples is equally distributed across the spherical body 1, each of the plurality of dimples being semi-spherical imprints. Advantages of the embodiment with the plurality of dimples include rigidity and durability against wear and tear from extended use of the present invention.

To use the present invention, the ball is placed onto a batting tee in a desired orientation, and a batter attempts to strike the present invention with a bat. Each of the at least one flat surface 2 provide batters with a visual guide on which hitters may focus while swinging a bat. The flat surfaces additionally aid batters in utilizing proper swing technique and bat flight path to and through the ball. If the present invention has been struck correctly by a bat, the ball takes a flight path that projects perpendicularly from the point of contact at the flat surface of the ball. As such, a batter is quickly able to assess whether or not his technique on the previous swing was correct. Because the diameter, hardness and weight of the present invention are very similar to those of an official regulation ball, the present invention behaves in a similar manner when struck off a tee by a bat. The process of utilizing the present invention is highly repeatable if the present invention is used in conjunction with a net as the batter is able to quickly retrieve the ball.

The present invention may be positioned on a tee such that the at least one flat surface 2 is positioned in such a manner to simulate the point of contact between a bat and ball. For example, the ball may be positioned on the tee to simulate the point of contact a batter may experience on an inside pitch or an outside pitch. To train a horizontal swing, the present invention should be placed on the tee such that the at least one flat surface 2 is vertical. Although the preferred embodiment comprises two flat surfaces, alternate embodiments may be contemplated in which more than two flat surfaces are incorporated. Flat surfaces of different sizes are preferably incorporated in order to accommodate training of batters of varying skill levels.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A training baseball for hitting practice comprises: a spherical body; at least one flat surface; and each of the at least one flat surface being positioned on the spherical body.
 2. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one flat surface is made by removing material from the spherical body.
 3. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the spherical body comprises a center point; and each of the at least one flat surface comprise a normal axis.
 4. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the normal axis passes through the center point.
 5. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 3 comprises: the normal axis being oriented normal to the at least one flat surface; and the normal axis being centrally positioned with the at least one flat surface.
 6. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 3 comprises: a first axis and a second axis passing through the center point; the first axis and the second axis being oriented perpendicular to each other; a cut plane being oriented normal to the first axis and parallel to the second axis; the cut plane being offset from the second axis along the first axis; a cut vector being oriented away from the center point along the first axis; and the cut plane being coincident with the at least one flat surface, wherein the at least one flat surface is formed by removing material from the spherical body in a volume of space delineated by the cut plane and the cut vector.
 7. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 1 comprises a first surface and a second surface from the at least one flat surface.
 8. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first surface and the second surface are positioned opposite each other on the spherical body along an axis passing through the center point.
 9. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first surface and the second surface are rectangular.
 10. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first surface has a larger area than the second surface.
 11. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a plurality of dimples; and the plurality of dimples being equally distributed across the spherical body.
 12. The training baseball for hitting practice as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a plurality of laces; and the plurality of laces being arranged across the spherical body in a manner common to baseballs. 